Interview Series - Career Experts - Candace Moody from CareerSource Northeast Florida CareerMetis.com

Interview Series - Career Experts - Candace Moody from CareerSource Northeast Florida â€" CareerMetis.com In this interview series, we caught up with Candace Moody from CareerSource Northeast Floridawho shares her expertise and insights about job search, career change,etc.in today’s marketplace.Tell us a little bit about your companyevalCareerSource Northeast Florida is the regional workforce organization based in Jacksonville, Florida.How did you get started in this path?I was a military spouse, so my husband and I moved every few years, forcing me to start over in a new city.Eventually, I got good at re-inventing myself, building a network from scratch, and researching the local job market.My mission is to help others think differently about their careers and be efficient in their job search.Is this something you decided early on in your career?I’ve always been a writer and coach; my specialization in career coaching seemed a natural fit with my own journey.What is the most exciting part of working in this industry?I love learning about new ways of creating a meaningful career path .The world is changing so quickly that the traditional ways of finding a job and planning a career simply don’t apply any more.I try to help people see new possibilities in the way they approach work â€" and what comes after, for my fellow baby boomers.What is the best Career Advice you’ve ever received?evalStay open. I learned early on that the word “yes” is where all the possibility lives.My early mentors encouraged my native inclination to ask “What if…” and “Why not?”.Opportunity may only knock once, but it’s often looking through the window, tying to see if you’re at home and interested in what’s just outside the door.How do to stay abreast of the industry as an expert?Read, read, read, read.I follow industry articles, great career blogs, HR sites, and read every new career book I can get my hands on.I’m also meeting job seekers every day who tell me about their challenges and their frustrations What are some of the things that you see job seekers stru ggle with the most?Confidence is their biggest struggle.Even the most accomplished candidates feel powerless in the job search process.I want to help them feel like they have just as much power in the exchange as the hiring manager.How should job seekers approach job search today?Like a consultant.Companies decide to hire someone because they have a problem to solve, customers to serve, or something that needs fixing.Your job is to understand what the problem is My advice is this: first, create a robust profile (there are hundreds of online forums and posts on how to do this.) Then, treat LinkedIn like the serious career advancement tool it is.Make quality connections, and offer value to try to turn them into real world relationships.Unemployment is at the lowest levels, why do you think that is?The economy is red hot, and just about anyone who wants to work can find a job.Rising wages are luring people back into the workforce who’ve been sitting on the sidelines for a while.What is the biggest trend(s) you see that hiring managers will face in the next 2-3 years?I think hiring managers are going to have to design nimble, flexible working schedules and systems designed around worker preferences.Face time and office hours will give way to outcome-based measuring of a worker’s productivity.I hope we’re headed for a 4-day work week as well â€" I think we’d all be happier and more productive.Candace, what are you currently working on?I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking, writing, and speaking about the Gig Economy.I think we’re in a time of great change, where everyone has a chance to be entrepreneurial, even if they’re in a traditional job. We used to think a full-time job was the safest and best option, but I’m not convinced that’s true today.I coach people who want to explore gigs as a way to create financial independence and find work that challenges them and builds skills for the future.What are the best resources you recommend to job s eekers?One of the books I’m recommending to everyone is The End of Jobs by Taylor Pearson. He lays out the case for gig work beautifully.What is the best way for our audience to reach you?By EmailConnect with or Follow Candace Moody on Social Media:LinkedInTwitterCandace Moody and CareerSource Northeast Florida have also been featured in our recent compilation of the most resourceful career experts and career blogs â€" Top Career Advice Websites.